System of forced lubrication.



J. F, KEY. SYSTEM OF FORGED LUBRIOATION.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1907.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

2 BHEETSSHTJET 1.

/r7 vent/02"." James J. F. KEY.

SYSTEM OF FORGED LUBRIUATION.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 12, 1907. 1,01 3,180. Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

D II w n v /n ventor'.

JIttj y MML f UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. KEY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR' TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SYSTEM OF FORCED LUBRICATION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

To all whom it may) concern: Be it known that I, JAMEsF. KEY, a c1t1- zen of the United States, residing at Sanv Francisco, California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Forced Lubrication, of which the following is a specification.

My invention'relates to systems of forced lubrication for prime movers such as steam turbines and its object is to safeguard the system against loss of lubricant and interruptions of its functions due to accidents and other disturbing influences, by the provision of mechanism which is automatically brought into ooperation when such disturbances occur.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of ray invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system of forced lubrication as applied to a battery of turbines; Fig. 2 is a section through anautomatic baffler forming a part ofthis system; and Fig. 3 is a section through a bafller check employed in the system.

A battery of four vertical shaft turbines 3 is illustrated in Fig. 1, having step bearings 4 in which a film of lubricant under pressure is employed to support the rotating parts, but the invention may be applied to smaller number p of turbines. Lubricant from some suitable source of supply (not shown) is forced by pumps 7, 8 or 9, 10 through supply piping 5 having branches 6 leading to each turbine. The pumps 7, 8 are driven by electric motors 7 8. Pumps 9, 10 are steam pumps. But one pair of pumps. is intended to be in service at one time. The means for driving the pumps may be varied from those illustrated if de; sired. The pairsof pumps are driven by different means so that in case one source of motive power should fail another .would ordinarily be available for use. If desired, an accumulator may be connected with the system to furnish an additional source of supply when the pumps are all idle. Suitable return conduits 46 may convey lubricant from the bearings 4 and any other 50 parts of the machine requiring lubrication, ack to the pumps for continuous use in the system. 4

Between each branch 6 and the turbine it supplies in an automatic bafiler 11 which reduces the pressure of the from thatother types of machines and to a larger or imparted to it by the pumps to that required for the particular conditions existlng 1n the turbine supplied and maintains a regular flow of lubricant to the bearings.

The reduction in pressure is secured by forc- 1ng the lubricating fluid through a tortuous passage 1n the bafiler. This passage is preferably made in the form of a helical groove or passage of uniform area. By varying the length of the passage different resistances to the flow, and corresponding variations in pressure are secured. The construction shown in the drawings is only illustrative and it is to be understood that the length and cross-section of the passage may be varied to suit operating conditions.

The branches 6 lead to ball check valves 12 mountedon the casings -13 of the bafilers 11. If there is a sudden reduction of pressure in one branch due to a break in the plplng or some other cause, the flow or rush of liquid from the other branch carries the ball over and by closing an opening 14 stops the flow and consequent waste of lubricant from the undamaged branch and also the loss of pressure in the system. From the check valve the flow. is normally through the service baflier comprising a groove 15 in the cylindrical plug 16 slidably mounted in the bore of the casing 13. From this groove the lubricant passes to a chamber 17 and thence cated in thechamber 17 to normally hold the valve 24 on the end of the plug againstthe seat 25 formed in the fixed partition 26. A passage 27 controlled by the valve leads to an emergency. baflier comprising a groove or passage 28 in the plug 29. The plug 29 is slidably mounted in the bore of the casing 13 and is forced toward the partition 26 by a spring 30. Lugs 31 are provided on the end of the plug adjacent the partitio to space the two apart and permit flow from the opening 27 into the beginning of the passage 28. The projection 32 on the outlet end of the plug may, under certain conditions such as a reduction of'pressure in the tion of the spring 30 into the passage 21 to reduce the flow through it. A suitable pres-' sure gage 33 of any well-known construction may be connected to the flow space atthe left of the partition, as for example to the opening 33*. Under normal conditions this gage will indicate the pressure existing in pipe 22 and the step bearing supplied by said pipe. Should the flow through the pas sage 15 be stopped or checked in a large degree by foreign matter obstructing the passage, the cylindrical plug 16 will be forced to the right, Fig. 2, against the pressure of the spring 23 and will open the valve 24. The lubricant then flows through the emergency bafller to the bearing and the gage will by indicating pump pressure, instead of step-bearing pressure, warn the attendant of trouble in the baflier system forhim to remedy. The object of the baiiler 18, 19 is to permit a reduction of pressure in the cylinder 17 without lowering the step-bearing pressure. Stop valves 34 are located in each branch 6 for shutting off the flow through it when desired. p

The bafller check 35, Figs. 1 and 3, consists of a casing 36 provided with openings '37 at either end connected with thepiping 5. Within the casing is a cylinder 38 having enlarged ends 39 sliding in the chambers 40. Surrounding the reduced middle portion of the cylinder is a spring 41 confined between two rings 42 bearing against shoulders formed on the cylinder 38 and the casing 36. Fixed'in the bore of the cylinder 38 is a bafiier comprising a cylindrical plug 43 having a helical groove or passage 44 in its periphery. On each end of the plug 43 is a conical projection or valve 45 in line with the adjacent openin 37. If the pressure on one side of the ba er check is reduced by' a serious leak or break in the piping, or by some other cause, the pressure of the liquid in the piping at the opposite side will force the baflier and the cylinder 38 in the direction of the lower pressure against the action of the spring 41 and the valve 45 will close the openmg 37 and stop the loss of lubricant. When the damage has been repaired and the pressure restored in the previously broken section, the spring41 returns the parts to their normal posltion. y The numer of baflier checks in the system may, be

made greater than that shown in the drawings if desired.

- From an examination of the system and its operation as above described, it will be seen that no one cause, such as the disabling of a pump, a pipe breakin or a baflier being obstructed will ordinarily interfere with the operation of a battery of'turbines or at most will only necessitate the shutting down of but one of them. a

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure *by Letters Patent of. the United States, is,-

1. In a system of forced lubrication, the combination of a device for imparting service pressure to the lubricant, and a conduit conveying lubricant to the-part to be lubricated, comprising a service baflier and an emergency baffler which is brought into op 'eration when the flow through the service bafiler is obstructed.

2. In a system of forced lubrication, the combination of a device for imparting servive pressureto the lubricant, a condu1t conveying lubricant to the .part to be lubricated, a service bafiler, an emergency baifier,

and means for automatically bringing the emergency bafiier into operation when the flow through the service baflier is obstructed.

3. In a system of forced lubrication, the combination of a device for impartingservice pressure to the lubricant, a conduit for conveying lubricant to the part to be lubricated, comprising a service bafiier having a tortuous passage, an emergency baflier having a tortuous passage, and a valvecontrolling the flow through the emergencybaffler which is normally closed but which is opened automatically when the flow through the service'baflier is obstructed.

4. In a system of forced lubrication, the combination of a device for imparting service pressure to the lubricant, a conduit for conveying lubricant to the part to be lubricated, comprising a movable service baflier having a helicalpassage for the lubricant, an

emergency bafiier having a helicalpassage f for the lubricant, and a valve controlled by the movement of the service baflier which is normally closed but is opened automatically to bring the emergency baflier into operation-when the passage 1n the service baflier is obstructed.

5. In a .system of forced lubrication, the

combination of a device for imparting serv-.

ice pressure to the lubricant, conduits for conveying lubricant to' the different parts of the system including an automatlc bafflin device comprising a casing, a service ba er having a helical passage for the lubricant and slidably mounted in the casing, an emergency bafiier, a valve controlling the flow through the emergency bafiler, and a spring tending to move the service bafiler in one direction to close the valve but which permits the pressure 'n the system to 0 en the valve to bring he emergency ba er into operation when the passage in the service baflier is obstructed.

6. In a system of forced lubrication, an

automatic bafilinguclievice comprising a casing having a cy drical bore, a artition across said bore,;a valve seat in t e tion, a service baflier having a helica passage and slidably mounted in the bore on one side of the artition, an emergency bafiier on the opposite side of the partition, a valve on the end of the service baflier adjacent the partition, and a spring acting on said baflier'to hold the valve against its seat to prevent flow through the emergency bafiier under normal condition but. which permits the pressure in the system to move the serv- ,ice bafller to open the valve when its passage is obstructed. p

7. In a system of forced lubrication, an automatic baflling device comprising 'a casing having a cylindrical bore provided with an inlet and an outlet, a partition extending across the bore at one side of the inlet and provided with an o ening, a helically-.

grooved bafiier on the inlet side of the partition mounted for longitudinal movement in the bore, a valve moving with said baflier, a helicallg-grooved bafiler fixed in the bore beyond t e first baflier, a third helicallygrooved baflier on the opposite side of the partition and between it and the outlet, a Spring between the first and second bafiiers whichforces the first bafiler and the valve toward the partition to normally close the opening therein ,but which permits the pressure in the system to move the first bafller and open the valve when the flow through it is obstructed, and a conduit leading from I the-end of the second baflier to the outlet.

'8. In a system of forced lubrication, the

combination of a device for imparting serv-' ice pressure'to the lubricant, a conduit con veying lubricant to part of the system including a movable helically-grooved bafiler,

7 a valve for checking the flow of liquid through the conduit, and a, spring which y holds the bafller against movement and prevents the valve from operating but which permits the baffler to move to operate arti-' it when the pressure in the conduit beyond the bafiier is reduced by a break or some other cause.

9. In a system of forced lubrication, the combination of a device for imparting service pressure to the lubricant, a conduit for conveying lubricant to a part of the system including a movable baflier, means actuated by the movement of the bafller which checks the flow of liquid through the conduit, and a spring which tends to hold the baflier against movement but ermits it to move to actuate said means w en the pressure in the conduit beyond the bafiier is reduced by a break or some other cause.

10. In a system of forced lubrication, the combination of a service baffler, an emergency baflier, means for automatically bringing the emergency batfler into opera- .tion when the flow. through the service baflubricant de ivered to said'parts, emergency bafliers which are brought into operation when the flow through said service bafliers is obstructed, and bafiler checks between adjacent sections of the conduit .means which automatically check the flow from one of said sections to another when the pressure in one of them-is reduced by a break or some-other cause.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day'of October, 1907. JAMES F. KE Y .Witnesses:

' FLORA HALL,

T. F. TAYLOR. 

